Some remain on the job to keep the city functioning at 'Lebaran'<\/p>\n
Emmy Fitri, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Supendi's heart was broken when his youngest daughter asked
\nfor an oleh-oleh (a gift) as he was leaving his rented house in
\nthe Cempaka Putih area of Central Jakarta to sweep the streets of
\nJakarta on the Eve of Idul Fitri.<\/p>\n
\"What kind of a gift could I afford to give her as I am only a
\nstreet sweeper. I already felt guilty for not taking my family
\nhome to our village in Cirebon this year,\" Supendi, 46, lamented.<\/p>\n
With a monthly salary of Rp 300,000, obviously under the
\nregional minimum wage, Supendi, 46, and his family still felt
\nthat Idul Fitri was an event that could not be missed -- a break
\nfrom the usual routine days.<\/p>\n
\"Working on Idul Fitri Eve means additional income for me as I
\nwill get overtime pay. But, also as a matter of fact, it is my
\nturn to work,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He would only be able to enjoy the holiday on Tuesday when he
\nplanned to visit relatives and friends to ask for forgiveness,
\nthe Muslim tradition for Idul Fitri.<\/p>\n
Supendi was on Jalan Sudirman in Central Jakarta in the early
\nhours of Sunday morning. He had left his house at around 10 p.m.
\nSaturday night, and planned to be home before the Idul Fitri
\nprayer.<\/p>\n
Jakarta's streets were blanketed with all manner of debris
\ncaused by the hundreds of thousands of firecrackers let off on
\nSaturday night by thousands of revelers.<\/p>\n
\"The streets have to be cleaned before people leave their
\nhomes to perform the morning Idul Fitri prayer,\" he said proudly.<\/p>\n
Supendi was among those who could not be with their families
\nand relatives during the Idul Fitri holidays because of duty
\ncalls or situations that could not allow them to do so.<\/p>\n
A fire fighter, Sunaryo also spent the first day of Idul Fitri
\nat his firehouse in Central Jakarta. His duty was to be on-call
\nand to stay alert all night.<\/p>\n
\"There was only a minor fire and after that we (fellow
\nfiremen) just played cards all night long to stay awake,\" he said
\non Monday morning, adding that it was not the first time that he
\nwas unable to spend Idul Fitri with his family.<\/p>\n
\"My family has grown accustomed to it, and never complained
\nabout my work,\" Sunaryo said.<\/p>\n
Other professions, such as paramedics, train operators,
\nsecurity personnel and toll booth guards, also must work and stay
\nalert to keep Idul Fitri peaceful.<\/p>\n
A volunteer paramedic with the Indonesian Red-Cross (PMI) Dodo
\nalso said this year's Idul Fitri was not the first time that he
\nhad to be away from his parents and his siblings.<\/p>\n
But he enjoyed himself as he found it more fun to celebrate
\nwith friends outside his house, \"It's hard to explain but it is
\nalso fun, merrier with friends.\"<\/p>\n
Posted at the busy Senen railway station, Dodo, along with his
\nfive friends must be on continuous standby to give first aid to
\npeople suffering from illness at the crowded station, bound for
\ntheir hometowns to celebrate the holidays.<\/p>\n
\"I can always celebrate with my family after my duty ends,\"
\nsaid the young man, who would return home on the second day of
\nIdul Fitri.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/some-remain-on-the-job-to-keep-the-city-functioning-at-lebaran-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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